There are four main sects with in Hinduism:Shaivism, in which Lord Shiva is worshiped as the main god; Vaishnavism, in which Vishnu is the main god; Shaktism inwhich the female aspect of gods is primarily worshiped and Smartism, in which six main gods are worshipped Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Murugan and Surya.

September 14, 2014

The First Durga Puja in Kolkata

The First Durga Puja in Kolkata

The biggest annual religious festival for
the Bengalis, Durga Puja celebrates the victory of the Hindu goddess
Durga over the evil demon Mahishasura. The occassion is also known by
various names such as Durgotsab ('Festival of Durga') and Sharodotsab
('Autumn festival').

Following the Hindu scriptures, the actual worship of Goddess Durga
takes place in the Hindu month of Chaitra (corresponding to March or
April of the Gregorian calendar). But this worship is observed only by a
handful in some places of West Bengal. The autumnal celebration of
Durga Puja, known as "Sharadiya", is more popular and takes place in the
month of Sharat (September or October according to the Gregorian
calendar).

The "Sharadiya" Durga Puja is said to have first started in the year
1757 with the Durga Puja of Sovabazar Rajbari. The oldest puja in
Kolkata, it came to being due to the efforts of Maharaja Naba Krishna
De, the founder of the Shobhabazar royal family. It is said that after
emerging victorious in the Battle of Plassey, Colonel Robert Clive
wanted to pay a thanks to the divine forces for his success. The Battle
of Plassey was a landmark in the history of British domination in India
as the victory of the British forces in this war gave the East India
Company control of Bengal. Robert Clive was the then chief officer of
British East India Company and he led his forces to victory in this
crucial battle, that too with minimum casualties. As the only church in
Calcutta at that time was destroyed by Siraj-ud-Daulah, Clive was unable
to show his gratitude to God.

When Raja Nabakrishna Deb came to know of Clive’s desire, he invited the
latter to his house at Durga Puja and offer his thanks at the feet of
Goddess Durga. Initially Clive had some hesitations to attend the puja
as in those days Christians were not allowed by the Hindus to take part
in Hindu festivities. However, the mighty Nabakrishna Deb managed it all
and Robert Clive paid a visit to the Shobhabazar Rajbari to offer his
thanks to Goddess Durga. Thereafter, the Shobhabazar Durgotsab(Durga
Puja ceremony) came to be known as the "Company Puja".

The Shobhabazar Sharodotsab proved a trendsetter in Durga Puja
festivities of Bengal. From this time until the independence of India in
1947, inviting Englishmen to Durga Puja ceremonies became a fashion.
The number of Englishmen attending the family Durga Puja became an index
of prestige and a status symbol among the upcoming merchant class of
Kolkata. After this trendsetting puja of 1757, many British Officers of
the East India Company were invited as guests of honour in the Pujas by
various wealthy mercantile and Zamindar families in Bengal. The hosts
vied with one another in arranging the most sumptuous feasts and
organising lavish decorations and entertainment for their white guests.
This was a way of pleasing officials of The East India Company which was
in charge of a large part of India including Bengal after the battles
of Plassey and Buxar.

With time, the "barowari" (community) pujas took over in a big way. The
coming of corporate sponsorship helped these public puja ceremonies far
surpass the grandeur of the private pujas. However, the Durga Pujas of
the old zamindar families in and around Kolkata still attract crowds.
These still survive even after the downfall of royalty in India. In
2008, Shovabazar Rajbari organised the 252nd Durga Puja.